Nazi Party: The National Socialist German Workers' Party; came to power under Adolf Hitler in the 1930s Gained power by preaching German racial superiority and won control of government in 1933.
Fascism: A political philosophy that advocates a strong, centralized, nationalistic government headed by a powerful dictator. EXTREME PATRIOTISM LINKED TO RACISM AND OPPRESSION OF NON-BELIEVERS
totalitarian: complete & total rule by a single party and its leader in which all aspects of people's life are controlled without opposition
Adolf Hitler: Austrian-born dictator leader of the Nazi party
Led the Nazi party, became "der Führer" in 1933when won control of Gov'tby preaching German racial superiority.
Benito Mussolini: Italian dictator, began facist movement.
became prime minister of Italy in 1922, then dictator in 1925 "IL DUCE"
Axis: Germany, Italy, Japan & their allies in WW2 Major Axis Powers
Germany
Italy
Japan Minor Axis Powers
Hungary
Romania
Slovakia
Bulgaria
Joseph Stalin:Soviet union dictator, successor to Vladimir Lenin, part of big 3 Tried to control every aspect of life in USSR
Allies:
Major Allies
China
France
United Kingdom
Soviet Union
United States
Minor Allies
Australia
Belgium
Brazil
Canada
Greece
Holland
Luxembourg
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
South Africa
Yugoslavia
Munich Pact: Hitler & Chamerlain signed pact. Germany gained Sudetenland, Hitler promised to stop seeking more territory. An example of appeasement, met Germany's policies to avoid war.
appeasement:
The granting of concessions to a hostile power in order to keep the peace.British and French policy where they met Germany's demands in order to avoid war.
Soviet-German Non-Aggression Pact: August 1939 agreement where the soviets and the germans agreed not to declare war on eachother
Invasion of Poland:
Germany invades Poland using blitzkrieg, or, lighting war. Soviet union acquires parts of Poland & ports on the Baltic sea.
Great Britain and France declared war on Germany and WWII BEGAN
Battle of Britain:Hitler fought Great Britain, air warfare, bombed London and other Cities. Great Britain did not surrender.
Winston Churchill: was the British prime minister as well as one of the main leaders of Britain for most of the war. Successor to Chamberland. (Responsible for Appeasement)
isolationism: Staying out of foreign affairs & avoiding alliances with warring countries. WHY?? Because they wanted to focus on problems at home, and they didnt want WW1 to repeat itself.
FDR:Franklin Delano Roosevelt; US president 1933-1945.Preisdent after Hoover. FDR was an energetic & charismatic president, a liberal, led America through Great Depression with the New Deal. He Led America through most of WW2. FDR died after the Yalta conference.
Neutrality Acts: Clamped an embargo on sale of arms.
Prohibited shipment of US weapons to any nation at war 2nd neutrality act:
forbade US loans to any warring nations. 3rd neutrality act: Made other acts a permanent part of national policy; forbade US from going into war zones.
Cash and Carry:
Replaced the Neutrality Acts.
The USA would pay cash to carry arms to the Allies so they could help defeat Hitler.
peacetime conscription:
US began to draft men for service before we were in the war, in 1941
1940 Election FDR Re-Elected, promised too keep nation out of war.
Lend-Lease Act: FDR tried to help Allies by lending or leasing raw materials, equipment, and weapons to Allies in 1941.
"Arsenal of Democracy"
FDR's famous words for America durring the war. The arsenal of democracy was the "home", "store house", "safe house", "carrier" of democracy. (You can use whatever term you want. But they all sum it up pretty well, so I will be using all of them.)
Atlantic Charter:
Spelled out causes of WWII (FDR/CHURCHILL). Agreed to goals: -Seek no foreign expansion
-No territorial change w/o inhabitants consent
-respect peoples's right to choose Gov't
-promote free trade among nations
-encourage international cooperation to improve lives
-build a secure peace based on freedom from want and fear
-work for disarmament of aggressors
- establish permanent system of general security
Pearl Harbor
DEC 7, 1941
home front:
US during the war (social life) focused on War effort
War Labor Board:
Established by FDR to arbitrate labor disputes during WWII - avoided strikes, lookouts, wage disputes.
Office of Price Administration
Board's mission was to regulate prices so that rising prices would not interfere with the production of necessary war materials
War Production Board
liberty bonds:
loans to the Gov't to help pay for the war- holly wood encouraged the public to buy them
civil defense:
Volunteers volunteered to be "Wardens" to monitor neighborhoods to make sure blackouts were in effect, practice air raids, dim-outs
rationing Rations were put on products which had shortages. Gasoline, rubber, sugar, coffee, stamps, stickers.
internment: was the practice of detaining individuals who were considered to be affiliated with the enemy during wartime. This was done to the Japanese Americans during World War II in the United States when they were put in either relocation centers or internment camps.
Imprisonment of Japanese Americans by FDR/War Dept .. in isolated camps in the west after Pearl Harbor
"Mr. Black" The black Market, an informal, illegal way of buying goods that were officially rationed
Office of War Information Gov't information service in WWII, promoted patriotism, released war news, warned about spies, recuited women, Posters/Radio
Rosie the Riveter Poster of a strong woman, a symbol encouraging women that they acheive, that they can do what men can do, ecouraging war efforts.
minorities on the home front
Battle of the Atlantic Longest continuous campaign of WWII (1939-1945). Involved thousands of ships, U-Boats and Sonar. Thousands sunk.
Stalingrad: Hitler and the Germans attacked Stalingrad, Russia; Soviets defended, lost a major battle to Stalin and the Soviets. The battle was the major turning point of the war as well as being the most horrific.
Operation Torch / North Africa Campaign British-American invasion of North Africa. Wanted to clear Axis powers, improve navel control of Mediteranian, and got to southern border of Europe
Italian Campaign Allies vs. German forces, fighting for months. Allies forced Germans out of Sicily, Italians overthrew Mussolini and Gov't surrenderd.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Leader of the Allied troops, a US General.
Operation Overlord / D-Day: started on June 6, 1944, and was where the Allies invaded France & defeated the Germans. Operation Overlord was significant because it started the collapse of the Germans, which later led to the end of the war.
Normandy Region in Northern France where allies landed to invade France
Liberation of Paris 850,000 Allied troops moved from Normandy to Paris fighting the Germans. Helped by the French resistence, they liberated Paris & thousands of German soldiers give up.
George Patton
US general. Commanded army in North Africa, Sicily, European theater, Normandy, Battle of Bulge.
Battle of the Bulge Final German Assault on Allies in Belgum. Large Casualties, Allies won.
Yalta Conference Stalin, Churchill and FDR (the big three) made plans for the end of the war and future in Europe. Also agreed peace keeping after war.
Douglas MacArthur Pacific Theater General for the US. His famous quote: "I shall return"
Bataan Death March US troops in Phillipines surrendered and were forced to march to prison camps.
Doolittle Raid
Spring 1942 air raid on Japanese cities, including Tokyo. Caused little damage but shocked Japan's leaders and boosted Allies morale.
Midway:
June 1942 turning point in war. Clash between Japan and America off the island of Midway in the central pacific.
island hopping:
Strategy used by the allies to invade islands weakly defended by Japan.
kamikaze:
directly translated as divine wind, name for the suicide pilots that the Japanese used against the US ships at sea.
Okinawa The battle of Okinawa proved to be the bloodiest battle of the Pacific War.
Okinawa was the largest amphibious invasion of the Pacific campaign and the last major campaign of the Pacific War.
US won, but at a large cost.
Iwo JimaUSA bombed the island & stormed the beaches. Japanese were in underground bunkers & attacked US brutally. Although USA won, over 23,000 died.
The Manhattan Project Top secret program to build an atomic bomb began in 1942. led by Oppenheimer
Potsdam Declaration:
Issued by US, Great Britain and China, defined terms of Japanese surrender, Japan rejected which led to the dropping of atomic bomb.
Harry S Truman
President after FDR died. Made decision to drop atomic bombs on Japan.
Hiroshima:
Bomber named Enola Gay dropped atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshime. Killed 70,000 people. Truman had warned them to surrender.
Nagasaki Japan still didn't surrender after Hiroshima, so the US dropped another atomic bomb on the city of Nagasaki, killing 40 million. 8/14/45, Japan Surrendered.
United Nations------------------------->
50 nations approved the new peace keeping body that allowed the countries to work together towards lasting peace.
ORIGINS OF THE WAR How did dictators come to power in Germany, Italy, the Soviet Union, and Japan in the 1930?
Treaty of Versailles: Harsh punishment after ww1 for Germany, Soviets lost alot of land, will seek revenge
League of Nations: Failure w/out USA, world peace NOT kept
Global Depression: Large #s of internationally unemployed, dictators can rise easily.
Adolf Hitler and Germany:
-Began Nazi party
-Gained power by overthrowing constitution
-Eventually controlled govt.
Benito Mussolini and Italy:
-Facism, believed in extreme patriotism linked to racism.
-Grew Military and Nationalism
-Oppressed non-supporters
JAPAN:
-Built up their army
-Looked to expand in Pacific
Joseph Stalin the USSR:
-Communist
-Controlled all of life in Nation.
What events led to the beginning of World War II in Europe? The road to war in Europe worksheet
the ones needed are underlined
-Germany begins Mobilization in 1935
1. Germany takes the Rhineland in 1936
2. Germany Annexes Austria
3. Germany occupies the sudetenland -The Munich Pact is signed in 1938 - Churchill called it appeasement
-Germany and Italy form the Axis
4. Germany occupies the rest of Czechoslovakia
5. Germany invades Poland, using Blitzkrleg, or lightning war
-Great Britain and France declare war on Germany
-The Soviet Union acquires part of Poland and ports in the Baltic states
6.Hungry, Bulgaria, and Romania goin the Axis
7. In the spring of 1940, Germany invades five European countries - Denmark, Gorway, the Netherlands, Belgum, and Luxemborg.
8. Germany marches on France, takes over Paris.
9. Germany attacks Great Britain (but fails) in what becomes known as the Battle of Britain.
10. Germany invades the Soviet Union, and the Soviet Union allies with Britain and France
- Germany continues to expand in Europe.
What was America's foreign policy in the 1930s? Why did they have this policy? How did it gradually change as the war developed in Europe?
Stay Neutral
In the 1930's we wanted to stay neutral because:
A. We had a depression, so we thought we needed to fix the problems at home, first.
B. IT WAS IN EUROPE! NOT AMERICA!
C. We didn't want war after WWI
Neutrality acts: No weapons, ships, travel, or loans to belligerent countries
What happened at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941? Why did it happen? Was it a success? What was the impact of the event?
Japanese fighters and bombers attacked Wheeler Airfield, lots of Americans lost, innocents included, battleships & aircraft destroyed.
WHY? Japan wanted to expand & create an Asian empire due to overpopulation & lack of people; inevitable involvement in war, Tripartite act.; Japan aimed to attack pacific fleet and cripple US force.
IMPACT: The impact that the Pearl Harbor attack had on World War II was that it was the event that caused the United States to enter the war. Also, it forced the U.S. Naval leaders to change their perception of naval warfare. Prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, U.S. Naval leaders centered their fleets around battleships. Following the attack, the big battleships were out of operation which caused the Navy to center the fleets around aircraft carriers.
THE HOME FRONT What role did men, women, and children play on the home front? How were the lives of Americans effected by the war?
Women-
Didn't waste food
Planted victory gardens
Bought liberty bonds
Didn't buy from "Mr. Black"
Ration lines
Worked in factories
Women worked as stenographers
Paranoid about invasion
Conserve electricity, communications, water, and transportation
Didn't strike because the factories needed to produce as much war goods as they could
Wrote to soldiers
Played baseball
Weren't allowed to wear nylon stockings because nylon was used for parachutes, tents, etc.
Children-
Their toys were mini soldiers and tanks
Air raids were fun for kids
Kids saw movies that were anti- Nazi
collected metal straps
Captain America's first enemy was Hitler
Kids would be assigned to be plane spiers
They used allowances to buy war stamps
They started victory gardens
Only do necessary things
If you got hurt, you were helping Hitler because that meant that you couldn't work
Helped produce war supplies by war bonds
Play baseball
take more jobs
Be cooperative
Join the army or navy
Get involved in movies
Register for defense industries
Set aside differences and unite
Join the civil defense
How did the government gain more control of society during the war?
Programs
-War production Board-War labor Board-Office of price administration-Office of War InformationOther-rationing-japanese internment-propaganda-travel
-money (war bonds)
What happened to Japanese Americans during the war? Why? Should it have happened?
They were discriminated against by the people of America.
Mainly, they were sent to internment camps. In case any of them were "spies", even though most of the Japanese Americans were born in America
Was there other discrimination on the home front during the war?
Yes. African Americans, Native Americans, and WOMEN were discriminated agians THE US TROOPS What was the makeup of the America fighting forces? What about women, African Americans, Japanese Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans?
Women worked as nurses, pilots, and marines. There was some controversy about this. There were 216000 women working in the forces. For minorities the war created new dilemmas. Some questioned whether this was their war to fight because they were being discriminated at the home front. African Americans faced discrimination. There were 4,000 of them. They generally weren't assigned to combat and were confined to segregated units. Black women were also segregated. African Americans also did administrative jobs. On the home front, Mexican Americans were discriminated, yet 300,000 Hispanics fought in the war. 33,000 Japanese Americans fought in the war. 25,000 Native Americans fought in the war.
THE WAR IN EUROPE AND THE PACIFIC What were the plans of the Allies once the U.S. entered the war?
-Defeat Germany as top priority
-cross channel invasion postponed
-only accept unconditional surrender of Axis
-All nations work together to defeat germany & no peace w/ enemy.
What is the background of the atomic bomb? What are some of the pros and cons of dropping the bomb?
BACKGROUND: Manhattan Project, top secret program began by FDR, reserched & created bomb. Uranium atom first split by Germans.
Potsdam warned Japan to surrender because USA had a weapon of mass destruction, Japan refused. USA dropped the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima
PROS:
Quick way to end war
Show US power
Payback for Pearl Harbor & Bataan Death March
Saved lives: land combat would be more costly
CONS:
Japan was on its last legs, and would eventually surrender. No need to drop the bomb.
Killed innocents
It lead to a huge arms race & Cold War
April 19, 2009
WW2 Study Guide Feel free to add!! ~EMILY
P.S.
(add to Mr. Taft's too)
Gained power by preaching German racial superiority and won control of government in 1933.
Led the Nazi party, became "der Führer" in 1933 when won control of Gov't by preaching German racial superiority.
became prime minister of Italy in 1922, then dictator in 1925 "IL DUCE"
Major Axis Powers
Germany
Italy
Japan
Minor Axis Powers
Hungary
Romania
Slovakia
Bulgaria
Tried to control every aspect of life in USSR
Major Allies
China
France
United Kingdom
Soviet Union
United States
Minor Allies
Australia
Belgium
Brazil
Canada
Greece
Holland
Luxembourg
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
South Africa
Yugoslavia
The granting of concessions to a hostile power in order to keep the peace.British and French policy where they met Germany's demands in order to avoid war.
August 1939 agreement where the soviets and the germans agreed not to declare war on eachother
Germany invades Poland using blitzkrieg, or, lighting war. Soviet union acquires parts of Poland & ports on the Baltic sea.
Great Britain and France declared war on Germany and WWII BEGAN
Staying out of foreign affairs & avoiding alliances with warring countries. WHY?? Because they wanted to focus on problems at home, and they didnt want WW1 to repeat itself.
FDR died after the Yalta conference.
Clamped an embargo on sale of arms.
Prohibited shipment of US weapons to any nation at war
2nd neutrality act:
forbade US loans to any warring nations.
3rd neutrality act: Made other acts a permanent part of national policy; forbade US from going into war zones.
Replaced the Neutrality Acts.
The USA would pay cash to carry arms to the Allies so they could help defeat Hitler.
US began to draft men for service before we were in the war, in 1941
FDR Re-Elected, promised too keep nation out of war.
FDR tried to help Allies by lending or leasing raw materials, equipment, and weapons to Allies in 1941.
FDR's famous words for America durring the war. The arsenal of democracy was the "home", "store house", "safe house", "carrier" of democracy. (You can use whatever term you want. But they all sum it up pretty well, so I will be using all of them.)
Spelled out causes of WWII (FDR/CHURCHILL). Agreed to goals:
-Seek no foreign expansion
-No territorial change w/o inhabitants consent
-respect peoples's right to choose Gov't
-promote free trade among nations
-encourage international cooperation to improve lives
-build a secure peace based on freedom from want and fear
-work for disarmament of aggressors
- establish permanent system of general security
DEC 7, 1941
US during the war (social life) focused on War effort
Established by FDR to arbitrate labor disputes during WWII - avoided strikes, lookouts, wage disputes.
Board's mission was to regulate prices so that rising prices would not interfere with the production of necessary war materials
loans to the Gov't to help pay for the war- holly wood encouraged the public to buy them
Volunteers volunteered to be "Wardens" to monitor neighborhoods to make sure blackouts were in effect, practice air raids, dim-outs
Rations were put on products which had shortages. Gasoline, rubber, sugar, coffee, stamps, stickers.
Imprisonment of Japanese Americans by FDR/War Dept .. in isolated camps in the west after Pearl Harbor
The black Market, an informal, illegal way of buying goods that were officially rationed
Gov't information service in WWII, promoted patriotism, released war news, warned about spies, recuited women, Posters/Radio
Poster of a strong woman, a symbol encouraging women that they acheive, that they can do what men can do, ecouraging war efforts.
Longest continuous campaign of WWII (1939-1945). Involved thousands of ships, U-Boats and Sonar. Thousands sunk.
British-American invasion of North Africa. Wanted to clear Axis powers, improve navel control of Mediteranian, and got to southern border of Europe
Allies vs. German forces, fighting for months. Allies forced Germans out of Sicily, Italians overthrew Mussolini and Gov't surrenderd.
Leader of the Allied troops, a US General.
Region in Northern France where allies landed to invade France
850,000 Allied troops moved from Normandy to Paris fighting the Germans. Helped by the French resistence, they liberated Paris & thousands of German soldiers give up.
US general. Commanded army in North Africa, Sicily, European theater, Normandy, Battle of Bulge.
Final German Assault on Allies in Belgum. Large Casualties, Allies won.
Stalin, Churchill and FDR (the big three) made plans for the end of the war and future in Europe. Also agreed peace keeping after war.
Pacific Theater General for the US. His famous quote: "I shall return"
US troops in Phillipines surrendered and were forced to march to prison camps.
Spring 1942 air raid on Japanese cities, including Tokyo. Caused little damage but shocked Japan's leaders and boosted Allies morale.
June 1942 turning point in war. Clash between Japan and America off the island of Midway in the central pacific.
Strategy used by the allies to invade islands weakly defended by Japan.
directly translated as divine wind, name for the suicide pilots that the Japanese used against the US ships at sea.
The battle of Okinawa proved to be the bloodiest battle of the Pacific War.
Okinawa was the largest amphibious invasion of the Pacific campaign and the last major campaign of the Pacific War.
US won, but at a large cost.
Top secret program to build an atomic bomb began in 1942. led by Oppenheimer
Issued by US, Great Britain and China, defined terms of Japanese surrender, Japan rejected which led to the dropping of atomic bomb.
President after FDR died. Made decision to drop atomic bombs on Japan.
Bomber named Enola Gay dropped atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshime. Killed 70,000 people. Truman had warned them to surrender.
Japan still didn't surrender after Hiroshima, so the US dropped another atomic bomb on the city of Nagasaki, killing 40 million. 8/14/45, Japan Surrendered.
ORIGINS OF THE WAR
How did dictators come to power in Germany, Italy, the Soviet Union, and Japan in the 1930?
Treaty of Versailles: Harsh punishment after ww1 for Germany, Soviets lost alot of land, will seek revenge
League of Nations: Failure w/out USA, world peace NOT kept
Global Depression: Large #s of internationally unemployed, dictators can rise easily.
Adolf Hitler and Germany:
-Began Nazi party
-Gained power by overthrowing constitution
-Eventually controlled govt.
Benito Mussolini and Italy:
-Facism, believed in extreme patriotism linked to racism.
-Grew Military and Nationalism
-Oppressed non-supporters
JAPAN:
-Built up their army
-Looked to expand in Pacific
Joseph Stalin the USSR:
-Communist
-Controlled all of life in Nation.
What events led to the beginning of World War II in Europe?
The road to war in Europe worksheet
the ones needed are underlined
-Germany begins Mobilization in 1935
1. Germany takes the Rhineland in 1936
2. Germany Annexes Austria
3. Germany occupies the sudetenland
-The Munich Pact is signed in 1938 - Churchill called it appeasement
-Germany and Italy form the Axis
4. Germany occupies the rest of Czechoslovakia
5. Germany invades Poland, using Blitzkrleg, or lightning war
-Great Britain and France declare war on Germany
-The Soviet Union acquires part of Poland and ports in the Baltic states
6.Hungry, Bulgaria, and Romania goin the Axis
7. In the spring of 1940, Germany invades five European countries - Denmark, Gorway, the Netherlands, Belgum, and Luxemborg.
8. Germany marches on France, takes over Paris.
9. Germany attacks Great Britain (but fails) in what becomes known as the Battle of Britain.
10. Germany invades the Soviet Union, and the Soviet Union allies with Britain and France
- Germany continues to expand in Europe.
What was America's foreign policy in the 1930s? Why did they have this policy? How did it gradually change as the war developed in Europe?
Stay Neutral
In the 1930's we wanted to stay neutral because:
A. We had a depression, so we thought we needed to fix the problems at home, first.
B. IT WAS IN EUROPE! NOT AMERICA!
C. We didn't want war after WWI
Neutrality acts: No weapons, ships, travel, or loans to belligerent countries
What happened at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941? Why did it happen? Was it a success? What was the impact of the event?
Japanese fighters and bombers attacked Wheeler Airfield, lots of Americans lost, innocents included, battleships & aircraft destroyed.
WHY? Japan wanted to expand & create an Asian empire due to overpopulation & lack of people; inevitable involvement in war, Tripartite act.; Japan aimed to attack pacific fleet and cripple US force.
IMPACT: The impact that the Pearl Harbor attack had on World War II was that it was the event that caused the United States to enter the war. Also, it forced the U.S. Naval leaders to change their perception of naval warfare. Prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, U.S. Naval leaders centered their fleets around battleships. Following the attack, the big battleships were out of operation which caused the Navy to center the fleets around aircraft carriers.
THE HOME FRONT
What role did men, women, and children play on the home front? How were the lives of Americans effected by the war?
Women-
- Didn't waste food
- Planted victory gardens
- Bought liberty bonds
- Didn't buy from "Mr. Black"
- Ration lines
- Worked in factories
- Women worked as stenographers
- Paranoid about invasion
- Conserve electricity, communications, water, and transportation
- Didn't strike because the factories needed to produce as much war goods as they could
- Wrote to soldiers
- Played baseball
- Weren't allowed to wear nylon stockings because nylon was used for parachutes, tents, etc.
Children-How did the government gain more control of society during the war?
Programs
-War production Board-War labor Board-Office of price administration-Office of War InformationOther-rationing-japanese internment-propaganda-travel
-money (war bonds)
What happened to Japanese Americans during the war? Why? Should it have happened?
They were discriminated against by the people of America.
Mainly, they were sent to internment camps. In case any of them were "spies", even though most of the Japanese Americans were born in America
Was there other discrimination on the home front during the war?
Yes. African Americans, Native Americans, and WOMEN were discriminated agians
THE US TROOPS
What was the makeup of the America fighting forces? What about women, African Americans, Japanese Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans?
Women worked as nurses, pilots, and marines. There was some controversy about this. There were 216000 women working in the forces. For minorities the war created new dilemmas. Some questioned whether this was their war to fight because they were being discriminated at the home front. African Americans faced discrimination. There were 4,000 of them. They generally weren't assigned to combat and were confined to segregated units. Black women were also segregated. African Americans also did administrative jobs. On the home front, Mexican Americans were discriminated, yet 300,000 Hispanics fought in the war. 33,000 Japanese Americans fought in the war. 25,000 Native Americans fought in the war.
THE WAR IN EUROPE AND THE PACIFIC
What were the plans of the Allies once the U.S. entered the war?
-Defeat Germany as top priority
-cross channel invasion postponed
-only accept unconditional surrender of Axis
-All nations work together to defeat germany & no peace w/ enemy.
What is the background of the atomic bomb? What are some of the pros and cons of dropping the bomb?
BACKGROUND: Manhattan Project, top secret program began by FDR, reserched & created bomb. Uranium atom first split by Germans.
Potsdam warned Japan to surrender because USA had a weapon of mass destruction, Japan refused. USA dropped the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima
PROS:
Quick way to end war
Show US power
Payback for Pearl Harbor & Bataan Death March
Saved lives: land combat would be more costly
CONS:
Japan was on its last legs, and would eventually surrender. No need to drop the bomb.
Killed innocents
It lead to a huge arms race & Cold War